Telling Time in Foreign Languages

12 Fun Games for Spanish, French, German, or ESL Class

Feb 2, 2008

"What time is it?" It's time for fun activities using clocks and schedules in the target language.

Teach your language students the practical and essential skill of telling time. Begin with a solid review of numbers 1-60, and then enjoy some fun and games.

Get your students on their feet with the Total Physical Response (TPR) method of language learning. Dr. James J. Asher developed this fun and effective approach which requires physical movement in response to commands. To use TPR for telling time, call out times on the hour and have your students put their arms in the air to "become" the hands of a clock.

Your students will enjoy making colorful paper plate clocks using expressions from the target language. Cut hands out of card stock and attach them to the plate with a brad. Now your students are ready to show off their listening comprehension skills.

Use those new clocks in this speedy listening game. The teacher calls out a time and says, "Tick-tock-tick-tock . . . ." When students set the correct time on their clock, they hold it up and shout, "Boom!" Who's the fastest?

Practice reading digital clocks. Scatter flash cards on the floor and give a (clean) fly swatter to two students. Call out a time and see who can be the first to swat the corresponding card.

Prepare tic-tac-toe grids with times written in each square. In pairs, students orally identify a time and cover it with a bingo chip (each player uses a different color.) Three-in-a-row wins, of course!

Create or purchase bingo cards with analog clocks or digital displays. Your students will use listening comprehension skills as they search for the time you call. Consider a small sticker, stamp, or candy prize for extra motivation. Everyone loves a rousing game of bingo!

Prepare index cards of digital times and corresponding sentences for this partner/small group game. When players get a match, they keep the cards and take another turn. Encourage students to orally identify each card.

Distribute time flash cards to your students and ask them to circulate around the classroom and ask, "What time is it?" After giving the answer on the flashcards, students trade cards. They continue talking to as many classmates as possible until time is up.

Teach your students the real life skill of using a day planner. Prepare handouts of daily schedules with some appointments already filled in. (There should be a few different versions of schedules, and at least five open time slots.) Students ask their classmates if they are free at various times. When they find a common free time, they write in that person's name. Make as many appointments as possible in the time given.

Pull out the markers and construction paper and have your students create colorful party invitations in the target language. Display them in your classroom and send your students on a time scavenger hunt. Follow-up with a role play in which students call and invite each other to their parties. Paper phones make the activity lots of fun.

Do a variety of question-answer activities based on TV guides, movie guides, class schedules, and train/plane schedules. These authentic materials provide excellent novice reading practice. In many target cultures, the 24-hour clock is used.

Tell time in the context of this classic picture book. But watch out . . . this little ladybug is looking for a fight!

The copyright of the article Telling Time in Foreign Languages in Language Study is owned by Diane Farrug. Permission to republish Telling Time in Foreign Languages in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.